Hueso questions whether he violated campaign law

San Diego City Council President Ben Hueso said he’s not sure if he violated state law when he gave $25,000 in campaign contributions to a group that supports his brother in a council race.

Hueso said the money was returned Thursday out of “an overabundance of caution” after a reporter questioned the legality of the transaction, but he stopped short of saying it was illegal despite his campaign’s acknowledgment that it broke the law.

“I just want to make sure we have all the facts,” Hueso said Friday. “I want to do what’s right. I’ve very concerned that I’ve been put in this situation. I’m not happy about it because there was no intent — absolutely, whatsoever — to get around the laws. It was properly disclosed and reported and nobody was hurt.”

Hueso’s brother, Felipe, is running to replace him as the City Council’s representative for District 8, which covers southern San Diego neighborhoods such as Barrio Logan, Otay Mesa and San Ysidro.

Felipe Hueso’s opponent, David Alvarez, said the questionable transaction should be a telling sign for voters who will cast their ballots on Tuesday.

“I think people in this district and people in San Diego are disappointed by this violation of law,” he said. “It clearly shows how much we need to elect someone who is not connected to these types of dealings and illegal activities.”

The transaction in question occurred Oct. 7 when Ben Hueso, who is running for state Assembly in Tuesday’s election, gave $25,000 from his campaign coffers to a group called San Diegans for Healthy Neighborhoods and a Strong Economy. That group — created by the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council for the purpose of electing Felipe Hueso — has spent nearly $60,000 to support him in the council race and hasn’t spent money on any other candidate or issue.

State law prohibits candidates from giving their campaign funds to a separate group for the purpose of spending that money to support or oppose another candidate. Such laws are intended to limit influence on campaigns and make clear who is funding them.

Felipe Hueso, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined an interview request but issued a statement.

“I love my brother, but I do not know anything at all about his relationship to San Diegans for Healthy Neighborhoods or about that group’s activities,” he said. “That group is strictly independent from my campaign, as required by law, and we have had no dealings with it and no knowledge of its actions or activities.”

The state Fair Political Practices Commission monitors state campaign committees like Ben Hueso’s and issues fines for violations of campaign finance law. The executive director didn’t return a call for comment Friday.